Springbok 'crocks' recalled for Tri-Nations

South Africa have included 14 stars ruled out of the Tri-Nations away leg by injuries for return matches against Australia and New Zealand this month. Fullback-cum-centre Francois Steyn, wings JP Pietersen and Bryan Habana, centres Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers, fly-half Butch James and scrum-halves Fourie du Preez and Francois Hougaard were included among 12 backs. The 12-strong Springbok pack includes six 'crocks' who have recovered -- props Gurthro Steenkamp, Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis, hooker Bismarck du Plessis and locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha. South Africa face Australia at Kings Park in Indian Ocean city Durban on August 13 before moving west along the coast to Port Elizabeth for a showdown against New Zealand on August 20 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Coach Peter de Villiers chose nine of the squad beaten 39-20 by Australia in Sydney and 40-7 by defending champions New Zealand in Wellington last month, including skipper and hooker John Smit. Number eight Pierre Spies, who was unavailable for the ill-fated Australasia adventure tour, completes a squad missing injured loose forwards Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Willem Alberts. "We still have a number of injury concerns but the majority of players who were in rehabilitation have recovered well and are now available for selection, " De Villiers said in a statement. "It is very satisfying to see that Victor and Bakkies have now largely overcome their injuries although they still require management as we have a shortage of fit locks. "There are also injury problems among the loose forwards but I am hopeful that all of the four who are not currently in the playing squad will be ready for selection by the time of the World Cup." Rugby World Cup title-holders South Africa stirred a media storm at home and abroad when they omitted 21 largely first choice players from the away leg, with many doubting that they were all unfit. Springbok management had to extinguish more 'fires' during the tour, dismissing a South African website report that a rehabilitation programme in Rustenburg was actually a 'secret' World Cup camp. A surprise omission from the squad is young Coastal Sharks fly-half Patrick Lambie, who won praise for his performance behind an outplayed pack in New Zealand. The number 10 jersey is up for grabs ahead of the World Cup opener against Wales on September 11 in Wellington with incumbent Morne Steyn, 2007 World Cup winner Butch James and Lambie the contenders. Backs: Gio Aplon, Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Morne Steyn, Butch James, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard Forwards: Pierre Spies, Jean Deysel, Danie Rossouw, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Gerhard Mostert, John Smit (capt), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde